“It’s going to be a destination place in Gaston County,” said Stevenson. “And being right at the gateway between Mecklenburg and Gaston County, it’s going to be a place that people are going to want to go.”

River Park will be different from other parks because of the way recreation and nature will coexist, Stevenson said. The playground equipment won’t be bright shades of red or blue, but muted tones of brown.

“It’s going to be a destination place in Gaston County,” said Stevenson. “And being right at the gateway between Mecklenburg and Gaston County, it’s going to be a place that people are going to want to go.”

River Park will be different from other parks because of the way recreation and nature will coexist, Stevenson said. The playground equipment won’t be bright shades of red or blue, but muted tones of brown.

“We want it to be a place where the kids can come and learn about nature,” Stevenson said. “And that type of play our children need. They need to learn how to play out in the natural areas.”

The park’s two fishing pier observation decks had to gain Duke Energy approval because they extend into Duke Energy’s boundary on the lake, said Joe Moulin, senior project manager for WK Dickson & Co.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gives Duke Energy the authority to manage what gets built along Lake Wylie within its boundaries.

“We have consulted with them at the site to provide guidance on where their proposed fishing piers/observation decks are best located to protect the environmentally sensitive areas of the shoreline,” wrote Duke Energy spokeswoman Erin Culbert via email. “Duke Energy’s Shoreline Management Guidelines include environmentally sensitive areas as a way to protect fish and aquatic habitat and maintain good water quality.”

Belmont needed to get 14 permits to build the park, Moulin said.

Most of the design work will be done in 2013, Stevenson said. The city wants to start construction of the park in 2014, after the city completes construction on the Brook Street soccer park.

You can reach reporter Amanda Memrick at 704-869-1839 or follow @AmandaMemrick on Twitter.